Only six miles from the front gate of Fort Gordon, Marvin UMC welcomes soldiers to our worship throughout the year. The holiday season becomes a special time for gathering and, let’s admit it, eating. The Marvin faith community combines our favorite things—gathering and eating— into one event that supports our troops. 

Our History
For three years we have served the young recruits at Thanksgiving, but this year’s plans were forced to change. As quickly as one door closed, the Holy Spirit opened another. This time we were to serve our wounded soldiers and their families.

Having begun a relationship with the Fisher House, which houses wounded warriors and their families, we turned to them to meet their needs. We offered a home-cooked meal with entertainment, first-class service with a smile, line dancing as exercise, and Christmas carols led by our children. We connected with the Warriors in Transition Battalion and in two weeks we welcomed over 50 warriors and their families for an evening of fellowship.

Our Outreach
The church community went into action and turned our gymnasium into a large gathering place filled with the music of Steel Cross, a young country gospel band. Our Girl Scout troop invited another troop to join them and service began with their smiling young faces. With a menu fit to warm a soldier’s heart, the sharing and caring began. Our servers included all ages plus our retired military members. Once the soldiers sat down, there was no need to get up again. After dinner they lingered to listen to music from the band and our children. The senior exercise class led everyone in line dancing—electric slide and the Cupid shuffle. 

The Holy Spirit filled the space and warmed the hearts of our wounded warriors who are a part of our community and its outreach to the world. 

For further information contact Rev. Elizabeth Ackerman, 706-550-8736